Holder and washing machine having the same

ABSTRACT

A washing machine having a holder, which is configured to fix a hose in a simplified manner, thus achieving enhanced assembly efficiency and productivity. The washing machine includes a cabinet defining an outer appearance of the washing machine, a tub placed in the cabinet, a circulation pump placed beneath the tub, a circulation hose connected to the circulation pump and serving to supply wash water pumped by the circulation pump into the tub, and a holder provided at a position of the tub to fix the circulation hose. The holder includes at least one fixing protrusion protruding from a front surface of the tub.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.2010-0039674, filed on Apr. 28, 2010 in the Korean Intellectual PropertyOffice, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments relate to a holder to fix a variety of hoses used in awashing machine and a washing machine having the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

A washing machine is designed to wash clothes using electric power. Thewashing machine generally includes a cabinet defining an outerappearance of the washing machine, a tub placed in the cabinet to storewash water therein, a drum rotatably placed in the tub, and a motor torotate the drum.

If the drum is rotated by the motor after laundry anddetergent-dissolved water are introduced into the drum, washing of dirtylaundry is performed via friction between the laundry and thedetergent-dissolved water and drum.

Hoses to discharge or circulate wash water or air are used in thewashing machine. These hoses are bundled and fixed to the cabinet by useof, e.g., a hose fixing device provided at the cabinet.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is one aspect to provide a washing machine having a hosefixing structure to prevent collision noise caused when a hose collideswith other interior components of the washing machine due to rotationalvibration of a drum.

It is another aspect to provide a washing machine having a hose fixingstructure to stably fix a hose.

It is a further aspect to provide a washing machine to enhance assemblyefficiency and productivity owing to a structure for simplified hosefixing.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description whichfollows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may belearned by practice of the invention.

In accordance with one aspect, a washing machine includes a cabinetdefining an outer appearance of the washing machine, a tub placed in thecabinet, a circulation pump placed beneath the tub, a circulation hoseconnected to the circulation pump and serving to supply wash water,pumped by the circulation pump, into the tub, and a holder provided at aposition of the tub to fix the circulation hose, wherein the holderincludes at least one fixing protrusion protruding from a front surfaceof the tub.

The holder may further include a guide rib protruding from the frontsurface of the tub around the fixing protrusion.

The holder may further include a hook coupled with the at least onefixing protrusion.

The hook may include a coupling plate seated inside the guide rib, and acoupling loop extending from one end of the coupling plate to surroundan outer peripheral surface of the circulation hose.

The coupling plate may include a coupling boss protruding from a frontsurface thereof, and a coupling hole may penetrate the center of thecoupling boss such that the at least one coupling protrusion is insertedinto the coupling hole.

A pressure member to press the circulation hose may be coupled to thefront surface of the tub.

The pressure member may include an accommodation portion to receive thecoupling loop and a part of the circulation hose therein.

The accommodation portion may include a pressure plane to press thecirculation hose toward the front surface or lateral surface of the tub.

The holder may further include a fixing plate coupled with the at leastone fixing protrusion, and the fixing plate may include a firstclose-contact portion surrounding an outer peripheral surface of thecirculation hose to allow the circulation hose to come into closecontact with the front surface of the tub, and a second close-contactportion bent from either end of the first close-contact portion to comeinto close contact at a surface thereof with the front surface of thetub.

The fixing protrusion may include an expanded anti-separation portionprovided at a distal end thereof and configured to be tapered away fromthe front surface of the tub.

The second close-contact portion may be provided with a fastening holefor fastening with the at least one fixing protrusion.

The tub may include a seating recess to allow the circulation hose to beseated in the front surface of the tub.

The tub may include at least one protruding rib provided at a lateralsurface thereof, and the at least one protruding rib includes asupporting plane to support the circulation hose.

In accordance with another aspect, a washing machine includes a cabinet,a tub placed in the cabinet, a circulation pump placed beneath the tub,and a circulation hose connected to the circulation pump and serving tosupply wash water, pumped by the circulation pump, into the tub, whereinthe tub includes a seating recess to allow the hose to be seated in afront surface of the tub, and a pressure member to press the hose seatedin the seating recess is coupled to the front surface of the tub.

The pressure member may be a weight-balance.

The pressure member may include an accommodation portion to receive apart of the hose therein.

The accommodation portion may include a pressure plane to press the hoseto allow the hose to come into close contact with the seating recess.

In accordance with another aspect, a washing machine includes a cabinetdefining an outer appearance of the washing machine, a tub placed in thecabinet, a circulation pump placed beneath the tub, a connection hoseconnected to the circulation pump and serving to supply wash water,pumped by the circulation pump, into the tub, a circulation hose havingone end connected to the connection hose and serving to provide the washwater moving in the connection hose with air, and a holder provided at aposition of the tub to fix the circulation hose, wherein the holderincludes: at least one fixing protrusion protruding from a front surfaceof the tub; a guide rib protruding from the front surface of the tubaround the fixing protrusion; and a hook coupled with the at least onefixing protrusion.

In accordance with a further aspect, a holder provided at a tub to fix ahose used in a drum washing machine, includes at least one fixingprotrusion protruding from a front surface of the tub, a guide ribprotruding from the front surface of the tub around the fixingprotrusion, and a hook coupled with the at least one fixing protrusion.

The hook may include a coupling plate seated inside the guide rib, and acoupling loop extending from one end of the coupling plate to surroundan outer peripheral surface of the circulation hose.

The coupling plate may include a coupling boss protruding from a frontsurface thereof, and a coupling hole may penetrate the center of thecoupling boss such that the at least one coupling protrusion is insertedinto the coupling hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the invention will become apparent andmore readily appreciated from the following description of theembodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings ofwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an outer appearance of a drumwashing machine using a holder according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the interior of the drumwashing machine illustrated in FIG. 1 in the case where air moves in acirculation hose;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the interior of the drumwashing machine illustrated in FIG. 1 in the case where wash water movesin the circulation hose;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the portion ‘A’ of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling relation betweenthe circulation hose of FIG. 4 and a holder according to one embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling relation betweenthe circulation hose and a holder according to another embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling relation betweenthe circulation hose and a holder according to another embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling relation betweenthe circulation hose and a holder according to a further embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the interior of the drumwashing machine, in a state in which a pressure member is coupled to atub to which the holder has been mounted;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line I-I of FIG. 9 in thecase where the holder of FIG. 5 is used;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line I-I of FIG. 9 in thecase where a pressure member is used instead of a fixing plate of theholder; and

FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of the portion ‘B’ of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments, examples ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an outer appearance of a drumwashing machine using a holder according to an exemplary embodiment,FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the interior of the drumwashing machine illustrated in FIG. 1 in the case where air moves in acirculation hose, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating theinterior of the drum washing machine illustrated in FIG. 1 in the casewhere wash water moves in the circulation hose.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the drum washing machine 10 includes acabinet 30 defining an outer appearance of the washing machine 10, a tub40 placed in the cabinet 30, a drum 50 rotatably placed in the tub 40,and a motor (not shown) to drive the drum 50.

The cabinet 30 has an opening (not shown) perforated in a front surfacethereof such that laundry is put into the drum 50 through the opening. Adoor 20 is coupled to the front surface of the cabinet 30 to open orclose the opening (not shown).

The tub 40 has a plurality of fastening bosses 45 protruding from afront surface thereof. These fastening bosses 45 are used for fasteningwith a pressure member (500 or 600, see FIGS. 9 to 11).

A circulation pump 70 is arranged beneath the tub 40.

The circulation pump 70 serves to pump wash water directed from a watersupply hose 80 connected to the tub 40, to return the wash water intothe tub 40 through a connection hose 90 (see FIG. 2) or through acirculation hose 60 (see FIG. 3).

The circulation hose 60 illustrated in FIG. 2 serves to provide the washwater to be returned into the tub 40 through the connection hose 90 withair. One end of the circulation hose 60 is connected to a connectionpipe 75 and the other end of the circulation hose 60 is connected to thetub 40.

Air present in the tub 40 moves to a lower end of the tub 40 through thecirculation hose 60 to thereby be introduced into the connection pipe75. Then, the air introduced into the connection pipe 75 is mixed withthe wash water moving in the connection hose 90, thereby beingintroduced into the tub 40.

As the mixture of wash water and air is introduced into the tub 40,bubbles are generated within the drum 50, enhancing the washing abilityof the drum washing machine 1.

The circulation hose 60 illustrated in FIG. 3 is directly connected tothe pump 70 and serves to supply wash water into the tub 40.

Once wash water is introduced into the pump 70 through the water supplyhose 80 connected to the tub 40, the wash water is again injected intothe tub 40 through the circulation hose 60 via pumping of the pump 70.Although FIG. 3 illustrates a diaphragm 25 as having an injection holeby way of example, the injection hole may be formed in the tub 40.

The above described circulation of wash water may allow detergent to beuniformly distributed in the wash water, thus enhancing the washingability of the drum washing machine 1 and reducing the amount of washwater used during washing.

The above described circulation hose 60 is fixed to a position of thetub 40 by use of a holder 100, 200, 300 or 400, so as to be keptstationary without movement during rotation of the drum 50.

In addition, the above described circulation hose 60 is made ofsynthetic rubber, polyurethane, etc., and thus, may be deformed to havevarious shapes.

Accordingly, even if the circulation hose 60 is bent by a predeterminedcurvature in the course of being fixed to a position of the tub 40 byuse of the holder 100, 200, 300 or 400, or being directly connected tothe tub 40 or the circulation pump 70, it may be possible to preventpermanent folding or breakage of the circulation hose 60. Furthermore,even if the circulation hose 60 is pressed by the pressure member 500 or600, the circulation hose 60 may have substantially no change in crosssectional shape thereof, thus having no effect on movement of air orwash water passing therethrough.

Hereinafter, the holder 100, 200, 300 or 400 and the pressure member 500or 600 according to the embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail.

Although FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate different arrangements of thecirculation hose 60 for convenience in description of functions of thecirculation hose 60, note that the holder 100, 200, 300 or 400 and thepressure member 500 or 600 applied to the circulation hose 60 of FIG. 2is equally applicable even to the circulation hose 60 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the portion ‘A’ of FIG. 2, andFIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling relation betweenthe circulation hose of FIG. 4 and a holder according to one embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrating the firstly described embodimentwith respect to the holder, the holder 100 includes at least one fixingprotrusion 110, a guide rib 120 and a hook 180.

The fixing protrusion 110 has an approximately annular rod shape, and isconfigured to protrude from the front surface of the tub 40 by apredetermined length.

The guide rib 120 has an approximately U-shaped form to surround thefixing protrusion 110 and is configured to protrude from the frontsurface of the tub 40 by a predetermined length.

The guide rib 120 serves to prevent the hook 180 from pivoting about thefixing protrusion 110.

Although the fixing protrusion 110 and the guide rib 120 may beintegrally formed with the tub 40 during injection molding of the tub40, these components may be separately prefabricated and be mounted tothe tub 40.

The hook 180 is coupled to the fixing protrusion 110 and includes acoupling plate 130 and a coupling loop 140.

The coupling plate 130 has a smaller width than an inner width of theguide rib 120 so as to be seated inside the guide rib 120.

A coupling boss 150 protrudes from one surface of the coupling plate130, and a coupling hole 160 penetrates the center of the coupling boss150.

The coupling hole 160 perforated in the coupling boss 150 is providedfor insertion of the fixing protrusion 110.

The other surface of the coupling plate 130 at an opposite side of thecoupling boss 150 functions to come into contact with the front surfaceof the tub 40.

The coupling loop 140 extends from one end of the coupling plate 130 andhas an annular shape to surround an outer peripheral surface of thecirculation hose 60.

The annular coupling loop 140 may be partially opened such that thecirculation hose 60 is pushed into the coupling loop 140 so as to befitted to an inner peripheral surface of the coupling loop 140.

As will be clearly understood, if the circulation hose 60 does not havethe above described annular shape, the shape of the coupling loop 140may be changed to correspond to a shape of the circulation hose 60, toallow the circulation hose 60 to be fitted to the inner peripheralsurface of the coupling loop 140.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling relation betweenthe circulation hose and a holder according to another embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6 illustrating the secondly described embodiment withrespect to the holder, the holder 200 includes a plurality of fixingprotrusions 210.

The plurality of fixing protrusions 210 protrudes from the front surfaceof the tub 40 by a predetermined length, and is curved by apredetermined curvature such that distal ends 220 of the fixingprotrusions 210 face each other.

The plurality of fixing protrusions 210 is arranged with a predeterminedgap therebetween such that the circulation hose 60 is seated between theplurality of fixing protrusions 210. The gap between the fixingprotrusions 210 may be approximately similar to a diameter of thecirculation hose 60.

Since the plurality of fixing protrusions 210 is curved to face eachother, the gap between the fixing protrusions 210 is reduced at thedistal ends 220 of the fixing protrusions 210.

If the circulation hose 60 is pushed into the gap, the distal ends 220of the plurality of fixing protrusions 210 are moved away from eachother by a constant distance.

Then, once the circulation hose 60 is brought into contact with thefront surface of the tub 40 and is seated between the plurality offixing protrusions 210, the distal ends 220 of the fixing protrusions210 are returned to keep the original gap, thereby preventing separationof the seated circulation hose 60.

The plurality of fixing protrusions 210 may be made of, e.g., plasticsto realize elastic deformation and constant restoration thereof.

Although the plurality of fixing protrusions 210 may be integrallyformed with the tub 40 during injection molding of the tub 40, thefixing protrusions 210 may be separately prefabricated and be mounted tothe tub 40.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling relation betweenthe circulation hose and a holder according to another embodiment, andFIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling relation betweenthe circulation hose and a holder according to a further embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 7 illustrating the thirdly described embodiment withrespect to the holder, the holder 300 includes at least one fixingprotrusion 310, a seating recess 320 in which the circulation hose 60 isseated, and a fixing plate 380.

The fixing protrusion 310 has an approximately annular rod shape andprotrudes from the front surface of the tub 40 by a predetermineddistance.

The fixing protrusion 310 is formed at a distal end thereof with anexpanded anti-separation portion 315, to prevent the fixing plate 380from being separated from the fixing protrusion 310.

The expanded anti-separation portion 315 is tapered away from the frontsurface of the tub 40 to assure easy coupling between the fixing plate380 and the fixing protrusion 310.

The seating recess 320 is indented in the front surface of the tub 40such that the circulation hose 60 is seated on the tub 40.

The seating recess 320 may be configured to surround a predeterminedarea of the outer peripheral surface of the circulation hose 60. If thecirculation hose 60 does not have a circular shape, the seating recess320 may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the circulation hose60.

The fixing plate 380 includes a first close-contact portion 340, asecond close-contact portion 350 and a fastening hole 360.

The first close-contact portion 340 has a size similar to the diameterof the circulation hose 60 and is curved to surround the predeterminedarea of the outer peripheral surface of the circulation hose 60. Thesecond close-contact portion 350 extends from either end of the firstclose-contact portion 340 to have a predetermined angle with respect tothe first close-contact portion 340. The fastening hole 360 isperforated in the second close-contact portion 350 and is used forfastening with the fixing protrusion 310.

In a state in which the fixing plate 380 is coupled to the tub 40, onesurface of the second close-contact portion 350 may come into closecontact with the front surface of the tub 40.

The fastening hole 360 perforated in the second close-contact portion350 has a diameter similar to a diameter of the fixing protrusion 310,such that the fixing protrusion 310 is fastened through the fasteninghole 360.

If the fixing plate 380 is coupled to the tub 40 by fastening the fixingprotrusion 310 through the fastening hole 360 in a state in which thecirculation hose 60 is seated in the seating recess 320, an innersurface of the first close-contact portion 340 of the fixing plate 380acts to push the circulation hose 60 toward the tub 40, allowing thecirculation hose 60 to come into close contact with the seating recess320 indented in the tub 40. In this way, fixing of the circulation hose60 is accomplished.

Referring to FIG. 8 illustrating the fourthly described embodiment withrespect to the holder, the holder 400 includes at least one fixingprotrusion 410 and a fixing plate 480.

As compared to the holder 300 of the thirdly described embodiment, theholder 400 does not adopt the seating recess 320 of the holder 300, andfixes the circulation hose 60 to the front surface of the tub 40 by useof only the fixing plate 480.

The shapes and operations of the fixing protrusion 410 and the fixingplate 480 are substantially identical to those of the fixing protrusion310 and the fixing plate 380 of the thirdly described embodiment, andthus, description thereof will be omitted herein.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the interior of the drumwashing machine, in a state in which the pressure member is coupled tothe tub to which the holder has been mounted, and FIG. 10 is a sectionalview taken along the line I-I of FIG. 9 in the case where the holder ofthe firstly described embodiment is used.

As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the pressure member 500 may be coupledto the front surface of the tub 40.

The pressure member 500 is fastened with the fastening bosses 45protruding from the front surface of the tub 40, thereby being fixed tothe tub 40.

The pressure member 500 includes an accommodation portion 510 and apressure plane 520 provided at the accommodation portion 510.

The accommodation portion 510 takes the form of a recess having an openside such that the coupling loop 140 of the hook 180 and a part of orthe entire circulation hose 60 fitted to the inner peripheral surface ofthe coupling loop 140 may be received in the accommodation portion 510.

The pressure plane 520 comes into contact with a part of the couplingloop 140 and acts to press the hook 180 and the circulation hose 60toward the front surface or lateral surface of the tub 40.

In a state in which the holder 100 of the firstly described embodimentis mounted to the tub 40, the pressure member 500 is coupled to the tub40 to cover the holder 100 and serves to prevent the hook 180 and thecirculation hose 60 coupled to the hook 180 from moving forward orrearward due to rotational vibration of the drum 50.

The pressure member 500 coupled to the tub 40 may also serve as aweight-balance.

When the drum 50 is rotated upon receiving drive force from the motor(not shown), laundry received in the drum 50 may be concentrated on oneside of the drum 50, thus causing eccentric rotation of the drum 50because the drum 50 is made of a thin metal panel and has a lightweight.

To prevent the eccentric rotation of the drum 50, the weight-balance iscoupled to the tub 40 connected with the drum 50, to increase the weightof the drum 50.

The pressure member 500 according to the embodiment contains a material(e.g., cement) having an appropriate weight and thus, may serve as aweight-balance to be coupled to the tub 40.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line I-I of FIG. 9 in thecase where the pressure member is used instead of the fixing plate.

As described above, the holder 300 of the thirdly described embodimentincludes the at least one fixing protrusion 310, the seating recess 320in which the circulation hose 60 is seated, and the fixing plate 380.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, when using the pressure member 600, it may bepossible to omit the fixing plate 380 and the fixing protrusion 310.

More specifically, in a state in which the circulation hose 60 is seatedin the seating recess 320 indented in the front surface of the tub 40,the pressure member 600 is coupled to the tub 40 to fix the circulationhose 60.

Once the pressure member 600 is coupled to the tub 40, a pressure plane620 of the pressure member 600 presses the circulation hose 60, causingthe circulation hose 60 to come into close contact with the tub 40 andconsequently, preventing movement of the circulation hose 60.

Similarly, the pressure member 600 contains a material (e.g., cement)having an appropriate weight and thus, may serve as a weight-balance tobe coupled to the tub 40.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of the portion ‘B’ of FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the tub 40 is provided at a lateral surfacethereof with a protruding rib 700.

The protruding rib 700 protrudes from the lateral surface of the tub 40by a predetermined length, and includes a supporting plane 710.

The supporting plane 710 is provided at a surface of the protruding rib700, and in particular, serves to support a specific region of thecirculation hose 60 that is bent rapidly in the course of beingconnected to the tub 40, thereby allowing the circulation hose 60 to benaturally connected to the tub 40.

When the circulation hose 60 is naturally connected to the tub 40 owingto the supporting plane 710, this may also assure efficient circulationof air within the circulation hose 60.

Although the protruding rib 700 may be integrally formed with the tub 40during injection molding of the tub 40, the protruding rib 700 may beseparately prefabricated and be mounted to the tub 40.

Hereinafter, one of manufacturing processes of the drum washing machine10, i.e. a process of assembling the tub 40 will be described.

The tub 40 consists of a front tub 42 and a rear tub 44 (see FIG. 2 or3). The front tub 42 and the rear tub 44 are individually formed byinjection molding.

After the circulation hose 60 is coupled to the front tub 42 via thediaphragm 25, a hose-drawer (not shown) and the holder 100, 200, 300 or400 according to the embodiments of the present invention, the front tub42 is assembled with the rear tub 44 via screws, to complete the tub 40.

Alternatively, the circulation hose 60 may be coupled to the front tub42 via the holder 100, 200, 300 or 400 after the front tub 42 and therear tub 44 are assembled with each other.

As described above, when using the holder 100, 200, 300 or 400 accordingto the embodiments of the present invention, the circulation hose 60 maybe directly fixed to the tub 40. Accordingly, a process of coupling thecirculation hose 60 to the tub 40 may be included in the process ofassembling the tub 40.

In this way, a separate process of coupling the circulation hose 60 maybe unnecessary, resulting in enhanced productivity.

As is apparent from the above description, according to the embodiments,simplified fixing of a hose may be possible.

As a result of stably fixing a hose, it may be possible to prevent thehose from colliding with other interior components of a washing machinedue to rotational vibration of a drum. This may prevent abrasion of thehose and also, generation of collision noise.

With provision of a structure for simplified hose fixing, enhancedassembly efficiency and productivity may be accomplished.

Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it would beappreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made inthese embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit ofthe invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and theirequivalents.

1. A washing machine comprising: a cabinet defining an outer appearanceof the washing machine; a tub placed in the cabinet; a circulation pumpplaced beneath the tub; a circulation hose connected to the circulationpump and serving to supply wash water, pumped by the circulation pump,into the tub; and a holder provided at a position of the tub to fix thecirculation hose, wherein the holder includes at least one fixingprotrusion protruding from a front surface of the tub.
 2. The washingmachine according to claim 1, wherein the holder further includes aguide rib protruding from the front surface of the tub around the fixingprotrusion.
 3. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein theholder further includes a hook coupled with the at least one fixingprotrusion.
 4. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein thehook includes a coupling plate seated inside the guide rib, and acoupling loop extending from one end of the coupling plate to surroundan outer peripheral surface of the circulation hose.
 5. The washingmachine according to claim 4, wherein the coupling plate includes acoupling boss protruding from a front surface thereof, and a couplinghole penetrates the center of the coupling boss such that the at leastone coupling protrusion is inserted into the coupling hole.
 6. Thewashing machine according to claim 5, wherein a pressure member to pressthe circulation hose is coupled to the front surface of the tub.
 7. Thewashing machine according to claim 6, wherein the pressure memberincludes an accommodation portion to receive the coupling loop and apart of the circulation hose therein.
 8. The washing machine accordingto claim 7, wherein the accommodation portion includes a pressure planeto press the circulation hose toward the front surface or lateralsurface of the tub.
 9. The washing machine according to claim 1,wherein: the holder further includes a fixing plate coupled with the atleast one fixing protrusion; and the fixing plate includes a firstclose-contact portion surrounding an outer peripheral surface of thecirculation hose to allow the circulation hose to come into closecontact with the front surface of the tub, and a second close-contactportion bent from either end of the first close-contact portion to comeinto close contact at a surface thereof with the front surface of thetub.
 10. The washing machine according to claim 9, wherein the fixingprotrusion includes an expanded anti-separation portion provided at adistal end thereof and configured to be tapered away from the frontsurface of the tub.
 11. The washing machine according to claim 10,wherein the second close-contact portion is provided with a fasteninghole for fastening with the at least one fixing protrusion.
 12. Thewashing machine according to claim 11, wherein the tub includes aseating recess to allow the circulation hose to be seated in the frontsurface of the tub.
 13. The washing machine according to claim 1,wherein the tub includes at least one protruding rib provided at alateral surface thereof, and the at least one protruding rib includes asupporting plane to support the circulation hose.
 14. A washing machinecomprising: a cabinet; a tub placed in the cabinet; a circulation pumpplaced beneath the tub; and a circulation hose connected to thecirculation pump and serving to supply wash water, pumped by thecirculation pump, into the tub, wherein the tub includes a seatingrecess to allow the hose to be seated in a front surface of the tub, andwherein a pressure member to press the hose seated in the seating recessis coupled to the front surface of the tub.
 15. The washing machineaccording to claim 14, wherein the pressure member is a weight-balance.16. The washing machine according to claim 15, wherein the pressuremember includes an accommodation portion to receive a part of the hosetherein.
 17. The washing machine according to claim 16, wherein theaccommodation portion includes a pressure plane to press the hose toallow the hose to come into close contact with the seating recess.
 18. Awashing machine comprising: a cabinet defining an outer appearance ofthe washing machine; a tub placed in the cabinet; a circulation pumpplaced beneath the tub; a connection hose connected to the circulationpump and serving to supply wash water, pumped by the circulation pump,into the tub; a circulation hose having one end connected to theconnection hose and serving to provide the wash water moving in theconnection hose with air; and a holder provided at a position of the tubto fix the circulation hose, wherein the holder includes: at least onefixing protrusion protruding from a front surface of the tub; a guiderib protruding from the front surface of the tub around the fixingprotrusion; and a hook coupled with the at least one fixing protrusion.19. A holder provided at a tub to fix a hose used in a drum washingmachine, comprising: at least one fixing protrusion protruding from afront surface of the tub; a guide rib protruding from the front surfaceof the tub around the fixing protrusion; and a hook coupled with the atleast one fixing protrusion.
 20. The holder according to claim 19,wherein the hook includes a coupling plate seated inside the guide rib,and a coupling loop extending from one end of the coupling plate tosurround an outer peripheral surface of the circulation hose.
 21. Theholder according to claim 20, wherein the coupling plate includes acoupling boss protruding from a front surface thereof, and a couplinghole penetrates the center of the coupling boss such that the at leastone coupling protrusion is inserted into the coupling hole.